Product Info

Manufacturer Description

Agena's new XFURB Deluxe Mounting Base / Shoe features a new, unique cross-slot screw hole pattern, making it usable on a very wide variety of telescope tubes.

This base can be mounted on tubes that are 3.5" or larger in diameter (not telescope aperture), as well as flat surfaces. The long slots on the dovetail base also allow you to suitably position the finder at the most convenient or usable location on your tube or focuser, especially if you attach it to a Crayford focuser body using just a single mounting screw.

Perpendicular to the optical axis, this base can be used with mounting hole spacings ranging from 10mm - 29mm (0.39" - 1.14") if you use 5mm mounting screws. With 4mm mounting screws, hole spacings can range from 9mm - 30mm (0.35" - 1.18"). Note that this spacing is not sufficient to be used on 8" and larger SCT telescopes.

If you happen to have a telescope tube in which the mounting hole pattern is along the optical axis, then this base can be used for hole spacings ranging from 9mm - 32mm (0.35" - 1.26") with 5mm mounting screws.

The screw slots can accomodate screws up to 5mm in diameter. So commonly used M4 or M5 screws will both work with this. Virtually every other dovetail base on the market allows you to use only flat head screws. The recessed screw head slot on this base allows you to use most screws with even oval, hex, button, or other head types besides flat head screws as long as the screw head height does not exceed 3.25mm. However, note that no mounting screws are included with this shoe.

The base is made of die-cast metal and features a smooth black finish and two large locking thumbscrews. The center-to-center distance between the two locking screws is 24mm (0.94"). Total footprint size of this base is 42mm (1.65") perpendicular to the optical axis and 38.9mm (1.53") along the optical axis.

Note that some Synta / Vixen style brackets often have a small extension that slots into compatible bases to prevent slippage. This base does not feature this indented slot, so your finder bracket might stick out of the base by a little bit.

5.0Quality Product

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Review by David N.

1513632656

Dec 18, 2017

4.0Great product

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This is my 2nd mounting shoe like this. Very few on market with dual thumb screws to make finder scope very secure. Would have given a 5 rating but for having to slightly modify with a dremel to fit the screw holes on my C8 OTA. Still and all, it's very worth the price.

Guest

4.0Pretty good, could be improved upon.

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This was the best choice for the situation I was working with. On the plus side - it is as advertised and does hold finders with this type of base.

Downside - A couple of M4 and M5 screws that are long enough to reach beyond the stand-off height would have been helpful. I ended up creating one. I don't think 0.10$ is going to seriously impact the bottom line.

Downside - The base is pretty snug, depending on which finder is being installed. Again, it works but I should not have to remove paint from the finder for a smooth fit. 37.2 mm vs 37.0 would make things easier.

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Review by Don of Arkansas.

1443225600

Sep 25, 2015

5.0Best adapter ever

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Two thumbscrews. Horizontal and vertical mounting slots. And by the why they are SLOTS and not holes. This is the best adapter ever designed. I bought 2 of them. One for my guide scope and one for my finder. Simply perfect.